$15.8M building project is halfway completed

Somers Middle School has passed the halfway point of completion on the bulk of a $15.8 million construction project.

Construction is roughly 55 to 60% complete, according to Swank Enterprises Superintendent Duke Goss.

On Wednesday, crews were busy working in the 62,532-square-foot, two-story building.

“We’re in the stages of finishing the exterior siding,” Goss said, which has different finishes including stone veneer and steel siding.

“All of the main windows have been installed,” he said, noting that curtain wall windows (basically floor to ceiling glass) will be installed by the main entry and east and west stairwells.

Inside, crews were in various stages of work throughout the building, such as installing dry wall, tiling, painting and roughing-in remaining heating and ventilation systems in the gym.

New construction includes classrooms grouped by grade levels and break-out areas, a wood shop, science lab, makerspace, band and practice rooms, art room and life skills/special education classrooms, gym, fitness room, locker rooms and kitchen.

Looking out from his office in the existing building on Wednesday, Somers-Lakeside Superintendent Joe Price has a front-seat view to construction. In the existing building, preparations to demolish two older wings are evident where flooring was removed during asbestos abatement last summer.

“We’re getting ready to take down two-thirds of the building,” Price said. “Over spring break the asbestos people will come back and remove the floor in the gym. That way, as soon as school lets out [for summer] they’re ready to do the demolition on these two wings of the old building.”

Demolition of two older wings of the existing building constructed in the 1950s and ’60s are set to begin as soon as school lets out in June. A wing built in 1993 will be retained. Right now the 8,657-square-foot space is on track to be remodeled into storage and three classrooms. A covered walkway will connect the wing to the new building.

Walking over to the construction site, Price went inside what will be the new main entrance. A vestibule eventually will be enclosed and serve as a secure entrance where visitors will check in at the main office. The building also will be equipped with a security system that will allow staff to lock down areas of the building with the push of a button.

Once inside the building, the entrance opens to the commons. Natural light was an obvious focus of the design. Even on an overcast day, the commons area is bright. Off of the entrance is the library on one side and school administrator offices on the other. Central office administration will be located on the second floor.

Located off of the commons, is a space that will serve as a stage/performance area that will feature permanent risers. The space may be used for events such as plays or concerts, but also as a place where students can gather. Another main feature of the first floor is a gym with a competition-sized basketball court a fitness room and locker rooms. A divider curtain will eventually be installed allowing the court to be split into two smaller courts, Price said. Currently the gym is a staging area for construction materials.

The main floor also houses fifth- and sixth-grade classrooms and the wood shop.

Upstairs, a walkway will oversee the commons area. Classrooms are also slated to house seventh and eight graders. The science lab, band room and life skills room are also located on the second floor to name a few designated spaces.

Construction is currently on budget and the district is working on selecting furniture, fixtures and equipment.

“What we’re working on right now is more of the furnishings and equipment and in, fact, we just put a request for bids on furniture and we expect those back I think at the end of the month. Right now I have $400,000 in place there for furniture and we’ll find out the actual cost when those bids come in,” Price said.

Price said construction has been smooth since the original project was redesigned in 2018 when soil sample results led to a delay.

Construction began in mid-April 2018 after it had been put on hold in June 2018 when a soil report showed the structure of the original design and site placement could be compromised in the event of a major earthquake due to the presence of wet, loose, sandy soil susceptible to soil liquefaction — when soil behaves like a liquid — typically during a strong earthquake. Soil liquefaction causes settling, and, in the case of the original construction plans, the potential for differential settling.

Originally, new construction included renovating the 1993 wing and building a two-story addition into the hillside — where the problematic soils are — while still demolishing the two older wings.

After architects and engineers went back to the drawing board, the re-designed middle school was relocated east of the existing building. Soil conditions were improved below the new structure by creating 627 “vibro” stone columns 3 feet in diameter and 40 feet into the ground to provide all-around stability.

Price said the goal is to begin moving into the new building in May. The school will open to students in the fall.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.